Singaporean director Anthony Chen’s drama We Are All Strangers, closing his acclaimed Growing Up trilogy, will debut locally on August 20 after screenings at major international festivals.
- Final chapter of Anthony Chen’s Growing Up trilogy
- Features familiar Singaporean locations and culture
- Explores complex family and personal themes
What happened
We Are All Strangers, directed by Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chen, will have its local premiere on August 20, 2026. The film has already been featured in prestigious international festivals, including competing for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and opening the 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival. Its official trailer was released on June 22, offering the public their first glimpse of the story and setting.
The film stars Yeo Yann Yann, Koh Jia Ler, Andi Lim, and Regene Lim, portraying a son and his widowed father facing significant personal and family challenges. As the son’s girlfriend becomes pregnant and the father enters a new relationship, the film navigates the changes and responsibilities that arise, told through the lens of Singapore’s unique urban landscape.
Why it feels good
We Are All Strangers touches on universal themes of family, love, responsibility, and grief, all while being deeply rooted in Singapore’s culture and everyday life. By featuring familiar backdrop scenes like HDB estates, hawker centers, and MRT stations, the film offers an intimate look at community life that many local audiences will find relatable and comforting.
This film completes Anthony Chen's Growing Up trilogy, following two critically acclaimed works: Ilo Ilo, which won the Camera d’Or at Cannes, and Wet Season, which garnered multiple Golden Horse nominations. Fans of Chen’s storytelling and cinematic style can expect a thoughtful, emotionally resonant finale to this celebrated trilogy.
What to enjoy or watch next
With its Singapore release scheduled for August 20, audiences can look forward to more detailed announcements about premiere events, screening schedules, and ticket sales soon. Cinema-goers who appreciate character-driven dramas will likely find this film both poignant and reflective.
For those new to Anthony Chen’s work, it may be rewarding to watch the first two films of the trilogy—2013’s Ilo Ilo and 2019’s Wet Season—before seeing We Are All Strangers. These films build a thematic and emotional foundation that enriches the experience of this new release, highlighting the evolving portrayal of family and personal growth across time.